Means for metering fluid



Sept. 25, 1951 c. A. BROWN MEANS FOR METERING FLUID 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1944 (21 05- /7. Bean/1v.

P 1951 c. A-. BROWN MEANS FOR METERING FLUID 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1944 are: 4. Bean N.

Paten ted Sept. 25, 1951 MEANS FOR METERING FLUID Clyde A. Brown, Chicago, 111., assignor to The Dole Valve.Company, -Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 20, 1944, Serial No. 545,875

This invention relates to a method of and means for metering fluid. -More particularly, the invention is concerned with a device for controlling the flow of fluid in a conduit or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for supplying a substantially constant flow of fluid from a supply source to a storage chamber or the like, such, for example, as furnishing water to an automatic washing-machine.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide in a fluid system control means which, when included in the system, will respond to pressure differentials existing between parts of the system to maintain the flow of liquid at the downstream side of said control means substantially constant for any one definite pressure in the sysem on the upstream side of said control means. 7 r

It is another obj ect-of this invention to provide control means for a fluid system which will maintain the variation in discharge quantities on the downstream side of said control means within a relatively small range, such as ten percent variation, when the pressures on the upstream side vary within a predetermined range.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a metering or flow control device-to accomplish this purpose which is both simple and efficient, yet economical to manufacture.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a metering device having an internally disposed flexible diaphragm which reacts instantly to pressure differentials within the structure of the device to regulate the flow of fluid and thus to insure a substantially constant output therefrom.

The present invention also contemplates a metering device characterized by a housing having an internal chamber, an inlet and an outlet therefor, a flexible means disposed in the chamber between the inlet and outlet, an opening in the flexible means, and adjustable means associated with the flexible means for controlling the passage of fluid through the chamber.

In accordance with still other general features of the present invention, there is provided in a metering device of the type to which the invention relates a flexible diaphragm with which is associated a means of varying the size of the orifice openings which supply fluid to the metering device. 7

Other objects and advantages of th present invention will be readily apparent from the descriptions of certain embodiments of the inven- 1 Claim. (01. 137-1525) tion illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in which:

Figure 1 represents a vertical cross-section through a typical metering device which embodies the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section through the .device of Figure 1 as seen from the line IIII;v

Figure 3 is a cross-section through the device of Figure 1 as seen from the line III--III.

The metering or flow control device illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings embodies a housing I which comprises two castings 8 and 9. The casting 8 of housing I is provided with an inlet port In with which is associated a male thread I l for securing the unit to a suitable supply conduit or the like. The casting 9 has an outlet port 12 which is also threaded about its external periphery as at l3 ,for connection with a suitable conduit or the like.

Disposed between the two castings 8 and 9 of housing 1 which are secured together as by means of the bolts I5 is a flexible membrane or diaphragm l6. This diaphragm it, which is of the so-called envelope type, serves not only as a gasket to prevent leakage between the castings 8 and 9 when they are assembled, but also to divide the interior of the housing 1 into inlet chamber I! and outlet chamber l8 which are so designated by reason of their association with inlet port It) and outlet port l2, respectively. It will be readily understood that the diaphragm 16 may be fabricated of any suitable metal alloy, rubber, or a suitable moldable synthetic nonmetallic plastic material.

The diaphragm It, the convolution of which is substantially annular in shape and located adjacent to the wall of the casting 9, is provided with a centrally disposed circular aperture I9 therein. A disk member 2a is disposed adjacent the face of .the diaphragm [6 within the inlet chamber I7 and is provided with a threaded hub portion 2| which extends through the aperture I9 in the diaphragm [6 into the outlet chamber I8. Adjacent the face of the diaphragm l6 disposed in the outlet chamber l 8 and registering with the hub portion 2| of the disk member 20 is a ring 22. The ring 22 is fastened in place against the disk member 20 so as to hold the diaphragm l6 tightly therebetween by any suitable means, such, for example, as a washer 23 and a member 24 threaded upon the end of the hub portion 2|.

A plurality of openings 26 are provided in the diaphragm assembly comprising the ring 22, diaphragm' IGand disk member 20 so as to communicate with inlet chamber [1 and outlet chamber [8. The openings 23 are advantageously disposed in annularly spaced relation around the central aperture [9 in the diaphragm 16. A stem 21 is disposed in substantially perpendicular relation with respect to the face of disk member 20 and is secured to said disk member 26 in any suitable fashion, such, for example, as by being threaded thereinto.

The stem 2'! extends through the inlet cham: ber l1 and into the inlet port l being provided at its outermost end with a head23 so shaped that it is adapted to form an obstruction for the orifice opening 29 in the base of the inlet port l0. Opening into the inlet chamber I1 and connecting with the orifice opening 29 for the inlet port H1 is a recess 3|. is disposed transversely of the longitudinal axis of the stem 2? and mounted in a counterbore 33 adjacent the open end of the recess 3!.

The bearing plate 32 is provided with a central hole 3 1 in which the stem 2! is slidably sup ported for movement in an axial direction. The stem 2? is provided in its periphery adjacent the plate 32 with a plurality of milled slots 35 which serve to reduce the frictional resistance between the stem 2'? and the hole 3 3 in the bearing plate 32. A plurality of raised portions or stops 33 are provided upon the stem 2?. for contacting the face of the bearing plate 32 adjacent the inlet chamber [1 to delimit the movement of the stem 2'! to the right as seen in Figure 1.

A plurality of circular openings 38 are provided in the bearing plate 32 and arranged in annularly spaced relation about the hole 3G therein. It is advantageous to provide a number and size of openings 38 such that the bearing plate 32, which is primarily intended to guide the stem 27, does not appreciably affect the flow of fluid from the orifice opening 29 into the inlet chamber [1. V

A compression spring 48 is disposed in the outlet chamber i8 and on the opposite side of the diaphragm it from the stem 21. One end of the spring 43 is positioned against the face of the ring 22 and is adapted to encircle the member 24 which is threaded upon the hub portion 2i of the disk member 20 so as to prevent the possibility of displacement of the end of the spring 43 adjacent the diaphragm it. The other end of the spring 40 is positioned in any suitable fashion in the outer wall of the outlet chamber it, such, for example, as by causing the same to register with a counterbore 4| in the inlet port I2 of the casting 9.

The spring 10 is adapted to provide sufficient compression to position the diaphragm IE and the disk member 23 in such fashion that the stem 2i carried by the latter will be in the position illustrated in Figure 1, that is, with the stops 35 against the face of the bearing plate 32 so as to just balance the lowest fluid pressure expected to be encountered on the upstream side of the metering device. Thus, the normal inoperative position for the stem 21 will be with the stops 36 thereof against bearing plate 32.

By way of explanation of the operation of the flow control device of the present invention, it will be assumed that the device is inserted in a conduit carrying water or other suitable fluid medium with the inlet port Ill connected to the upstream side of the conduit and the outlet port i2 connected to the downstream side thereof. When the system is not in operation, it will be understood that the stops 36 on the stem 21 will be positioned as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings abutting against the face of the bearing plate 32.

When a flow condition exists in the system into which the device is connected, by virtue of a pressure drop across the openings 26, a pressure differential is created between inlet chamber ll rand outlet chamber I8 of the flow control device. This pressure differential develops a force which exceeds the force exerted by the Y spring 40 against the under side of the diaphragm assembly including the ring 22, diaphragm l6 and'disk member 20. Since the force on the diaphragm created by. the pressure of the water A bearing plate 32' s .acting 'on its opposite sides I! exceeds the force of .th'spring 3'0; the diaphragm assembly ineluding ring 22,..diaphragm l6 and disk member 26' moves toward the outlet port 12 in the castingail orltoward the downstream side of the system.

This movementof the disk member 2!] causes the stem 2'; mounted thereon to movetoward the left as seen in Figure 1 with the result that the head23 thereof tends to'obstruct the orifice opening 29 of the inlet H3 therebyclosing 01f a portionof the water entering through the inlet port Hi to the inlet chamber ll; This'operation takes place only during such time as it is required; to reduce the pressure drop across the openings 26 and, in turn, to reduce the total pressure differential between the outlet chamber as and the inlet chamber ll to the point where the force created by this pressure differential is balanced by the force exerted by the spring 4-3 against the diaphragm assembly including ring 22, diaphragm; i3 and disk member 20.

In this invention the control device may be designed. to respond to pressure differentials caused by any one of a range of pressures on the upstream side of the inlet chamber. For exam- 1116, the device may be designed for a range of inlet pressures of from 15 to. 150 pounds per square inch andbe' arranged for insertion in a fluid system with the downstream side controlled by a faucet and the upstream side subjected to the inlet pressure. If, then, the faucet is opened, apressure differential will exist between the upstream side of the device and the downstream side; This pressure differential will cause the diaphragm assembly to move in the housing toward the downstream side thereof and will, due to; the restricting action of the metering head 23', assume a position in which the pressure in the chamber I"! is substantially constant, with the differential pressure just balancing the force exerted on the diaphragm by the spring.

It is evident that whether the inlet pressure be ,15 or. 150 pounds per square inch-there will be a pressure differentialset up when the faucet is open. 1 In eachof these extremecases, the movement of the diaphragm will of course be different since itwill require more throttling at the 15 pounds, per square inch pressure.

the orifice opening 29 to reduce the 1-59 pounds per square, inch pressure than it will to reduce How ever, in both of these cases the diaphragm will attain a position at which the differential pressure just balances the force exerted by the spring 48. Further due to the fact, that increased throttling will cause increased velocity through the orifice opening, the velocity of liquid through the fixed opening 26 in the diaphragm will tend to be greater in thecase of about 1 pounds persquare inch inlet pressure than it will be inthe case of the 15 pounds per square inch inlet pressure and, therefore, the discharge quantity will be somewhat greater. The discharge variation due to the greater velocity should be approximately ten percent. Therefore, the control device of this invention is adapted to maintain a substantially constant discharge flow for any one constant inlet pressure. Also, it is adapted to maintain the discharge flow within a narrow range when the inlet pressures vary over a relatively wide range.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than n cessitated by the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as follows:

In combination in a metering device of the character described, means providing an inlet orifice, means defining an inlet chamber at the delivery side of said orifice, a stem extending through said orifice having a metering head cooperative with the entrance side of the orifice, means providing an outlet chamber positioned on the down stream side of said inlet chamber, orifice means connecting said inlet and outlet chambers, means adapted to fluctuate due to pressure difierential between said inlet and said discharge chambers on the flow axis of the device connected to the inner end of said stem, a spring acting on said fluctuating means to hold said stem in a position wherein the pressure differential between said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber will remain substantially constant, means for guiding said stem to maintain the latter in proper axial position within the orifice, said guide means being located in said inlet chamber and spaced between said inlet orifice and said fluctuating means, and means on said stem cooperable with said guiding means to limit the extent to which the stem may be moved under the influence of said spring.

CLYDE A. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 316,626 Jackson Apr. 28, 1885 375,071 Jackson Dec. 20, 1887 920,716 Beckman May 4, 1909 1,044,053 HuXfOrd Nov. 12,1912 1,495,101 Oldham May 20, 1924 2,321,573 Chace June 15, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 15,083 Great Britain of 1898 18,825 Germany of 1882 OTHER REFERENCES Ser. No. 243,016, V. Bayerl (A. P. (3.), published May 11, 1943. 

